Page 45 of Killer Bones

“Because if I were Kasimir… Just don’t.”

“Is it a death sentence?”

“Maybe. Yes. Yes, it would be. Don’t ever repeat that to anyone else.”

“What I said on the boat was the truth.” With her wounded hand, she reaches up and gingerly touches my jaw with her fingertips. Her wince tells me doing that hurt. “Let me find the right people for you to kill.”

“Wait. You meant that?” That’s a switch I didn’t expect.

“I did. I write about the horrible things we do to each other, but there are bad people I would dearly love to exterminate, because doing that would help the whole world.”

“Here I was thinking you were too sore to do more than sleep.”

“Pfft. Someone woke me, and I’m…I don’t know. I’m wrung out from being terrified, but my head is buzzing now. And seeing Montez dead, after what he said, what he has done… He was number one on my bad guy list. I felt vindicated. I felt awesome even. Is that too awful?”

Her frown is adorable.

“No. It’s not awful. It’s you, and it is what most people think. They just never get to do what they are thinking.”

This doesn’t just make sense. It is the last piece in my grand jigsaw puzzle.

“How long is this bad guy list?”

“Huge.” She smiles. “Why?”

“Now I know how to reward you for being my obedient kitten.”

“Oh.” Her mouth stays in that O shape. “You’d kill for me?”

“Within reason.”

“Holy fuck monkeys!”

I laugh. “Was that a real curse? You made my head ache.”

“I was excited. Is this how power feels?”

“Maybe.” I lie down again and pull her into me. It’s a mistake. Her bare ass down there is rubbing into my cock with every movement of her body. I’m severely craving spanking her, hard, then face-fucking her into the bed.

Breathe, I tell myself. Breathe.

“We’re both going to sleep now. Or else.”

She kisses my hand. “Thank you. For saving me.”

“Shhh. Sleep.”

“No. Let me say this. You did something no one else has ever done for me. I will be forever grateful. I owe you everything.” The tearful rasp in her voice, her hesitancy—I’m already at sea—then she destroys me by whispering that word again, “Everything.”

I’m putty. Is this love? Goddamn feels like it should be.

“Same here. Your bravery impressed me. Kasimir is one scary mother when he needs to be.”

“Not the same.”

I place my hand over her mouth to shush her.

Izzy wriggles her ass back into me, and I almost choke.